David Moyes is poised to make his first signing of the January transfer window after Everton agreed an £8.6m fee with Twente for their powerful central midfielder Leroy Fer.

The 23-year-old, who has made two senior appearances for Holland, is due to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms on Merseyside ahead of Everton's Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

He has been offered a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Goodison Park club and has confirmed he wishes to join Everton's attempt to qualify for Europe next season.

"I was told about Everton's interest the day before they played Southampton [last Monday]," said Fer. "I watched the game the day after and I saw the potential in the group. I have looked at the players in the squad and love the way they play.

"Everton are in the top five and have a real chance of playing in Europe next season. From when I was a young boy, I always wanted to play in the Premier League. The fact I am going to do it with one of the biggest teams in the Premier League makes this move even more special."

Moyes has targeted a central midfielder and a striker for this transfer window but an attempt to sign the midfielder Yann M'Vila from Rennes was thwarted when the France international opted for a lucrative move to the Russian club Rubin Kazan. The Everton manager is interested in the 19-year-old Leeds United right-back Sam Byram and Barnsley's 18-year-old defender John Stones. Igor De Camargo of Borussia Mönchengladbach is also under consideration.

The size of the fee for Fer comes as a surprise after Moyes said Everton had only limited funds to bolster their attempts to qualify for the Champions League this season. He had, however, hoped the record Premier League television deal that comes into effect next season would generate additional revenue for this transfer window. Marouane Fellaini's future at Goodison has also been subjected to intense speculation this month, but Moyes is confident the Belgium international will remain an Everton player once Thursday's deadline has passed.

Everton have needed strengthening in central midfield this season with Darron Gibson sidelined by two thigh injuries and Fellaini deployed in a more advanced role behind Nikica Jelavic. Fer, who is nicknamed "the bouncer" on account of his imposing stature, offers a combative midfield presence and has been likened to Patrick Vieira and Yaya Touré in the Netherlands.

Fer graduated through the Feyenoord ranks before moving to Twente, now coached by Steve McClaren, for €5.5m in 2011. He has scored 11 goals in 38 games for the club, and after winning 25 Under-21 caps made his full international debut last August. He made headlines last year when he spent £22,000 on a horse for his girlfriend, only to sell it because she would not be able to keep it, partly on account of living in a block of flats.